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200
G. A. C. HERKLOTS
Raphiolepis indica is the most beautiful, and fortunately very common, flowering shrub of the second half of February. The old leaves of this shrub are deep green, slightly toothed, and from 1 to 21⁄2 inches long. The young leaves, which are developed frequently simultaneously with the flowers, are a deep olive-red or red. The flowers are white or very pale pink, that is, the typically 5 petals are of this colour but the stalks, sepals and filiaments of the numerous stamens are pink or red. The white flowers on a pink ground, against a background of deep red young foliage and the deep green of last year's leaves, makes a very beautiful and pleasing colour scheme. DISTRIBUTION. Probaby confined to South China.
VYNCH
NAME.
LINCH
Figure 5. Raphiolepis indica, Lindl.
春花樹 Ch'un' fa1 shue, Spring flower tree, McClure (7) p. 19;
* Shek pan1 muk,, Stone rank tree, Ts'ing' li, muk, green
pear tree, Groff (4) p. 52.
ILLUSTRATIONS.-Figure 5 is of a twig terminated by a group of flowers, the inset is of a flower face view, about actual side, Plate 30 figure 2 is from a photograph by V. H. C. Jarrett, Esq. and shows a shoot in full flower. FLOWERING PERIOD.-Most flowers develop between the middle of February and the middle of March. The black fruits develop later in the summer. LOCALITIES. Very abundant on the foot-hills and mountains of Hong Kong and the Territories.
REFERENCES.(1) Bentham p. 107, (3) D. and T. p. 97.
HAMAMELIDACEAE.
Kum1 Lui, Muig For1.
Calyx-tube more or less adherent or rarely entirely free; the limb 4- or 5-lobed or toothed, or rarely entire. Petals either as many, inserted at the base of the calyx-lobes, or fewer or none. Stamens either as many or twice as many, inserted with the petals. Anthers erect; the cells opening laterally in various ways, the connective often produced beyond them. Ovary
The Hong Kong Naturalist.
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